Meet Wally McDonough

Wally McDonough utilizes his substantial business and legal experience to effectively assist clients to solve disputes through mediation, arbitration and case evaluations. Since founding ELK, Wally has mediated hundreds of disputes in many different areas, ranging from two party disputes up to fifteen party disputes with tens of millions of dollars at stake. The disputes have ranged from construction project issues, to insurance adjustment and subrogation matters, on to labor/employment issues, personal injury and general business disputes. The cases may differ, but the approach applied is the same—to help the parties and counsel to a dispute to see and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their position, and the practical realities of the dispute. This focus fosters a narrowing of the issues in dispute and encourages settlements. Our Successes page highlights many of those cases.

As an arbitrator, Wally believes that parties in dispute deserve timely, cost-effective and reasoned decisions on their issues. Applying best practices, Wally strives to meet the goals of arbitration—quick and efficient resolution on the basis of the merits of the case, the contracts at issue and the law. Wally has arbitrated dozens of cases in a variety of fields since forming ELK.

Prior to forming ELK, Wally was a trusted advisor and general counsel for Suffolk Construction, where he was directly involved for over ten years in all aspects of the business. His efforts helped to grow the company from a regional contractor into one of the largest general contractors in the nation, with over $1 Billion in revenues and 750 employees. His tenure as general counsel and senior executive provides him with a unique perspective on the challenges faced by businesses and individuals alike. He has a wealth of practical knowledge and insight into the construction, real estate, insurance and labor/employment industries.

Wally holds a B.A., cum laude, in politics from Princeton University and a J.D. cum laude from Boston College Law School.